A team of researchers at the University of Cambridge has developed a brain training app that can improve concentration against daily distractions that people face in a connected world.

The team demonstrated that playing the game app called 'Decoder' on an iPad for eight hours over one month improved attention and concentration.

This form of attention activates a frontal-parietal network in the brain, said the researchers from the Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute at the University of Cambridge.

"We've all experienced coming home from work feeling that we've been busy all day, but unsure what we actually did," said Professor Barbara Sahakian from the Department of Psychiatry.

For complex tasks, we need to get in the "flow" and stay focused, she added in the study published in the journal Frontiers in Behavioural Neuroscience.

To reach this conclusion, the researchers divided 75 healthy young adults into three groups: one group received "Decoder", one control group played Bingo for the same amount of time and a second control group received no game.

All 75 participants were tested at the start of the trial and then after four weeks.

The results showed that those who played "Decoder" were better than those who played Bingo and those who played no game.

"The difference in performance was significant and meaningful as it was comparable to those effects seen using stimulants, such as methylphenidate, or nicotine," said the team.

To ensure that "Decoder" improved focused attention and concentration without impairing the ability to shift attention, the researchers also tested participants' ability on the "Trail Making Test".

"Decoder" performance also improved on this commonly used neuropsychological test of attentional shifting.

"In addition to healthy people, we hope that the game will be beneficial for patients who have impairments in attention, including those with ADHD or traumatic brain injury. We plan to start a study with traumatic brain injury patients this year," said Professor Sahakian.

The game has now been licensed to app developer Peak.

Peak on Monday released the game, as part of the Peak Brain Training app, on Apple App Store for free. The Android version would come later this year.

Noted historian Ramachandra Guha, whose latest book is a biography of Mahatma Gandhi, said on Sunday that Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel together built India after Gandhi's assassination in 1948.

Guha said the "rivalry" between the two stalwarts is being cropped up today by people with vested interests and maintained that both Patel and Nehru helped build the foundations of modern India.

"After Gandhi's death, Patel and Nehru put their differences aside and kept India together. They laid the foundation of modern India. After Patel's death too, Nehru carried forward Gandhi's legacy," he said on the closing day of the ongoing Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival during a session with writer-translator Tridip Suhrud.

He regretted that "posthumously they are being presented as rivals" by those "with vested interests".

The revered historian further said that much of the criticism against Gandhi was baseless and arises from lack of understanding.

"But it is impossible to defend Gandhi in his personal life, particularly how treated his wife and family," Guha contended.

The criticism against Nehru is different, he said.

"Nehru has descendants who falsely claim his legacy. It is only when (Congress President) Rahul Gandhi retires from politics that we will truly understand Nehru's greatness. The sins of successive generations have been transferred on to Nehru," claimed Guha.

The Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival, now in its 10th edition, will reach its culmination on Sunday evening.

With Xi Jinping being named President of China for life, a new book explores whether a new doctrine called "Xi-ism" has been etched into Communist political theory.

In "Inside the Mind of Xi Jinping", author Francois Bougon tries to explain that Xi-ism is "perhaps something similar to Maoism - that sinified version of Marxism-Leninism - that once appealed to so many Western youths".

Bougon, an economics correspondent at French daily Le Monde who also served as the Beijing correspondent of Agence France-Presse, points out that Xi, ranked as the most powerful and influential person in the world by Forbes magazine in 2018, has achieved the incredible feat of having his name inscribed in the constitution of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Xi's magic formula that China must have total faith in its own brand of socialism, blended meaningfully with Chinese tradition, was adopted by the 19th Congress of the CPC in 2017 as "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era".

With this, Xi has put himself at the same level as Mao Zedong, the founding father of the People's Republic of China, given that former Chinese President Deng Xiaoping's theory was adopted by the 15th Congress in 1997, well after his death.

"Xi, then, has been given 'linxiu' status, a term which means 'leader' in Chinese, but which up until that point had been reserved for Mao and Deng," Bougon writes.

The French journalist, who is an expert on Asian issues, refers to Xi's use of the term "Chinese solution" (Zhongguo fang'an) in his speech at the 95th anniversary of the CPC in July 2016 in which he said: "The whole party must remember that what we are building is 'Socialiam with Chinese characteristics', not some other-ism. History has not ended, nor can it possibly end. "To judge 'Socialism with Chinese characteristics' we must look to fact, and to the judgment of the Chinese people, and not to the subjective and groundless conclusions of biased people. The (Party) and Chinese people have every confidence in their ability to provide a Chinese solution to aid the search for a better social system for humanity."

Xi basically meant that China has a solution for the world with the Western democratic model running out of steam.

Bougon writes that Europe is facing difficulties, worn out by Britain's exit from the European Union, "and has no plan".

"Inequalities are rising in the rich world and the 'losers' of globalisation are ready to vote for parties that promise a strong state," he states.

"In the United States, the election of Donald Trump caused widespread astonishment and showed how unpredictable democracy can be."

In the chapter "Culture Wars", Bougon refers to Xi's obsession with controlling the media and his calling of a meeting on "the work of reporting" during the 1989 Tiananmen Square crisis when he was holding a government post in the southern province of Fujian, some 1,000 km away from Beijing.

"Reporters must feel the pulse of their time, recognise the role of the news, understand that they are the spokespersons of the Party and the people," the book quotes Xi as saying in that meeting.

"Their main task is to reflect and guide public opinion."

Bougon writes that Xi did not seek wealth but was always attracted by power.

"According to the statements of a former acquaintance, gathered by the American Embassy (in Beijing) between 2007 and 2009, Xi was always 'particularly ambitious' and 'never lost track of his goal' which was to reach the highest echelons," the book brings to light.

It also refers to late Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's impression of the Chinese President that he is in Nelson Mandela's class of people.

"A person with enormous emotional stability who does not allow his personal misfortunes or sufferings to affect his judgment," Lee was quoted as saying after a meeting with Xi in 2007.

A rivetting biography, "Inside the Mind of Xi Jinping" delves deep into the mindset of the Chinese President.

Witness the unbreakable bond of two girls whose ambition beats patriarchy and poverty; live through a true big fat Bollywood romance; tread through the lanes of Kathmandu as a young girl seeks love and her own space in life, and finally, explore how an 'Orange' sanyaasi life feels like through the eyes of a child abandoned by the mother.

Shobha Rao's debut novel narrates the long struggle of two best friends who go through multiple episodes of physical, mental and emotional abuse and how even after all of that, they "refuse to lose the hope that burns within".

"Poornima and Savitha, born in poverty, have known little kindness in their lives until they meet as teenagers. When an act of devastating cruelty drives Savitha away, Poornima leaves behind everything she has ever known to find her friend," the synopsis reads.

The book alternates between the girls' perspectives as they face insurmountable obstacles on their travels through the darkest corners of India's underworld and across the ocean.

This book revolves around three different Bollywood-themed fictional love stories and the ups and downs of each relationship, with a pinch of drama and lots of glamour.

Here's a sneak peek: "When Vicky Behl and Kritika Vadukut meet on the sets of the period drama 'Ranjha Ranjha', everyone agreed they had serious chemistry - and not just on screen. But after her devastating break-up with Raunak Rajput, Kritika doesn't know if she can handle being with another Bollywood actor. If only Vicky wasn't so damn charming...

"As they dance to romantic numbers and spend time between takes on the glamorous sets of Sudarshana Samarth's film, they find it hard not to give in to their attraction to each other. But will the pressure and scrutiny of Bollywood allow them a happy ending or will there be a twist in the tale?"

Set in Kathmandu, Shradha Ghale's debut novel narrates the story of a young girl's coming of age, her search for love and "her own space in life". Equally, it draws a telling portrait of Kathmandu - its class and caste divisions, its cosmopolitanism which exists alongside conservative attitudes, and its politics due to which a civil war looms.

"Sumnima Tamule is in a crisis. Her friends at Rhododendron High School - all girls from semi-royal and other rich families - will soon be going abroad, but she, with second-division marks in her final exams, might have to settle for a grimy little college in town. Her parents, plodding away in middle-class Kathmandu, are deeply disappointed, and all their hopes are now pinned on Numa, her sister.

Sundry cousins from their village in far-off Lungla - driven out by poverty and the warring Maoists - come to live with the family, trample upon her privacy, and wage kitchen politics. And, worst of all, Sumnima's US-returned RJ boyfriend, for whom she has been lying, sneaking around and stealing money from home, keeps her waiting for his phone calls.

Through the book, Tim Guest, a London-based journalist who died in 2009, shares the story of his nomadic childhood when his mother took him to a commune modelled on the teachings of the charismatic Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh who preached a doctrine of eastern mysticism, sexual freedom and enjoyed inhaling laughing gas.

The book gives a sneak peek into the life of Tim as he shares photographs of his childhood and how his family grew with the commune.

"Left alone while the adults meditated, chanted and engaged in group therapy, Tim - now known as Yogesh - was free to explore a new world of unsupervised freedom. But life with the Orange people is never simple, and soon the movement begins to turn in on itself, replacing free love and openness with paranoia, surveillance and repression," the book says.

]]>This New Year, make the right skin care choices for you and your babyhttp://vishvatimes.com/this-new-year-make-the-right-skin-care-choices-for-you-and-your-baby
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It is the beginning of another year and the time when most of us make a resolution that we would like to achieve for both physical and emotional well-being. As a mother, it is natural to want the best for your little one. There is nothing more important than ensuring overall wellness for both you and your little one. This New Year, celebrate motherhood with a few simple tips thatll help you adopt a safe and gentle skin care regimen.

Say yes to products with botanical ingredients

It is time to go in for products with botanical ingredients. Products infused with the goodness of herbs remain the best and safest option for you and your little ones' skin, especially during the initial months of childbirth and post-pregnancy. Moms can opt for products with the goodness of aloe vera, country mallow, winter cherry, khus grass, Indian madder, sesame, almond, coconut and the like that can help cleanse yet maintain soft and supple skin.

Moisturisation is key

Regardless of the weather, it is important to moisturise the skin. Adequate amount of moisturiser will provide the required nourishment and protect the skin from dryness/irritation. You can opt for a baby lotion with almond oil and licorice (Yashtimadhu) that help keep the skin soft and supple.

For yourself, opting for a body butter enriched with cocoa butter and glycerin will help retain the skin's moisture. When the moisturiser comes with invigorating fragrance of rose, lavender or jasmine, it also helps relax the mind.

Massage enhances the well-being of mother and baby

For healthy and radiant skin, massage plays a key role. Regular massage with an oil enriched with sesame oil, country mallow and winter cherry helps strengthen your muscles and leaves you feeling rejuvenated.

A massage is also the best way to bond with your little one. You should look for an oil that is specially formulated for babies and enriched with olive oil and winter cherry that helps in baby's overall growth and development.

To maintain soft and supple skin, choose a soap-free formula for a gentle and mild bath from the very beginning for your baby.

Bid adieu to rashes

Pregnancy also triggers skin rashes for new moms, so your skin also needs care. Use a cream that contains yashada bhasma, aloe vera, almond oil and manjistha for soothing effect.

Just like you, your baby is also prone to minor rashes, especially diaper rashes. Regular application of a diaper rash cream infused with the goodness of yashada bhasma, almond oil, aloe vera, and five-leaved chaste tree around the diaper area soothes the irritated skin.

Kickstart the New Year by making the right skin care choices for yourself as well as your little bundle of joy!

Wild coffee species are under threat, with 60 per cent of them facing possible extinction due to climate change and the loss of natural habitat, as well as by the spread of diseases and pests, scientists have said.

Most coffee species are found in the forests of Africa and Madagascar, the Guardian reported on Wednesday.

While cultivated coffee is thriving, making up a hugely profitable business globally, the health of those species will also be affected by climate change.

In Ethiopia, the number of locations where Arabica, the original of the world's most popular form of coffee, grows could be reduced by as much as 85 per cent by 2080, and up to 60 per cent of the land used for the country's coffee production could become unsuitable by the end of the century, the researchers from the Royal Botanic Gardens, UK, published their research on Wednesday in the journals Science Advances and Global Change Biology.

Ethiopia is Africa's biggest coffee exporter, exporting $1 billion worth of the crop annually. About 15 million people in the country work in coffee production.

Commercial coffee on a global scale will also be affected if wild species die out, as those plants could hold the key to cross-breeding coffee varieties more resilient to the effects of climate change and possibly resistant to certain pests and diseases.

The analysis was based on the scientists' examination of the 124 known coffee species, and an assessment was produced for the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which publishes the global Red List of threatened species.

Lead author Aaron Davis, said: "Among the coffee species threatened with extinction are those that have potential to be used to breed and develop the coffees of the future, including those resistant to disease and capable of withstanding worsening climatic conditions.

"The use and development of wild coffee resources could be key to the long-term sustainability of the coffee sector. Targeted action is urgently required in specific tropical countries, particularly in Africa, to protect the future of coffee."

Tobacco companies in India are targeting schoolchildren as young as eight years for sale of their products and placing advertisements, finds a new study.

Conducted by Consumer Voice and Voluntary Health Association (VHA) of India the study titled ‘India Tiny Targets Report' which was released here on Wednesday, found that nearly half of the vendors around schools sell tobacco products.

It covered schools in 20 cities across six states -- Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

For the study, survey was carried out in 243 schools at 487 point of sales (PoSs) across India has found that about half of them (225) sell tobacco products to minors.

"Street vendors were the most common form of vendors of the 225 tobacco points of sale. Vendors advertise tobacco products around schools and sell cigarettes and bidis via single sticks, making these products cheap and accessible to children and youth," the study found.

It also stated that vendors display tobacco products in ways that are appealing to children and youth and utilize sales techniques such as discounting products and distributing free samples.

"The tobacco industry must be held accountable for their aggressive advertising efforts around our children's schools. Our schools are not safe so long as the tobacco industry continues to try and lure our children into buying their deadly products," Bhavna B Mukhopadhyay, Chief Executive, Voluntary Health Association of India said.

Heat some oil in a wok. Add cashews to the oil and roast till little brown. Now roast the almonds as well for a minute or so and drain out on a plate. After this, slight roast the paneer as well.

Meanwhile, chop the potatoes in small chunks. When the paneer turns little brown, transfer it to a plate. Now add peas, cover and let them cook for a minute or so. Transfer the roasted peas as well. Place the potato chunks in wok add roast till they get slightly brown. Transfer the roasted potatoes as well. Add carrots and cauliflower and roast until little crunchy and take out in a plate.

Add cumin seeds in the remaining oil. After this add whole spices and saute for a while. Now add rice, salt, lemon juice, roasted veggies, paneer, roasted cashews and almonds. Mix everything really well. Navratan pulao is ready, transfer it to a plate and serve.

Suggestion

To cook the rice, clean them well and soak for half an hour in water. Add less than half of the water than rice and microwave for 10 minutes. Rice for making pulao is ready.

Take ¾ cup of sesame seeds in a bowl and dry roast them in a pan while continuously stirring them. The sesame seeds have expanded and their colour has changed because they have roasted. Grind them in a mixer after cooling them.

Melt ½ cup of Ghee in a pan and add 1 cup of chickpea flour to it. Cook the chickpea flour while continuously stirring them on the medium flame. Roast until its colour changes and soothing fragrance appears.

Add 1 cup of crumbled Mawa to it on the low flame. Cook again while continuously stirring it for 10 minutes. Add 1.25 cups of powdered sugar and mix them properly. Add the ground sesame seeds along with 1 tsp of green cardamom powder to it on the low flame.

Stir and roast all the ingredients well on the low flame. Grease a tray using Clarified butter to set the Barfi. Spread the mixture evenly on the plate. Garnish it with almond flakes and press them using a spatula to insert in it.

Place it beneath the fan or at a cool place to set for an hour. Cut the pieces into your desired size. Separate the pieces and serve them. Store it in an airtight container inside the refrigerator and consume it for 10-12 days.

Suggestion

Do not roast sesame seeds excessively otherwise, they will taste sour.